Fred Robinson book

[Don Hendrix]

I believe that this has already been discussed, but I can't find it right now. Has anyone in the US received the Robinson book yet? I received an email last week saying that it was shipped on Jan 20 via "surface mail". I am just wondering if it has arrived anywhere in the US yet. Maybe I expect too much of the postal system, but a month and a week seems like too long even for the slowest of snail mail. Thanks.

[Jim Martin]

Hi Don,

I had the same thought until it arrived in my mail yesterday (Friday 02-27-09). The Royal Mail postmark was 01-16-09

It is a stunning book.

[mrgoat]

They were delayed, I got mine in England only last week.

But it was worth the 20 something year wait.

It's a great book.

[Gordolini]

Just received in Louisville a couple days ago.

[Richard Hatch]

I ordered two copies in early December (when I was under the mistaken impression the book would not be available to dealers for resale) and one copy arrived more than a month ago, the other one just a few days ago. Both postmarked January 16th, so I apparently was just lucky that the first one mistakenly went by air, rather than surface. Most dealers in the US who have ordered the book from their suppliers should have them in stock in one to two weeks, I am told.

[Don Hendrix]

I guess I spoke too soon. The book arrived in Tucson today. Haven't had much time with it yet, but it looks well worth the wait!

[Richard Kaufman]

Martin has stated several times that no books were being sold to dealers and you had to order through him. Has that changed?

[Richard Kaufman]

I guess so since I see it on both the Hank Lee and H&R websites.

[Richard Hatch]

Martin has stated several times that no books were being sold to dealers and you had to order through him. Has that changed?

Martin denies that HE ever made such a statement, though I was certainly under that impression, as were the reviewers in both GENII and MAGIC. Nonetheless, copies are en route to several jobbers in the US and the first batch are expected to arrive early this week.

[erdnasephile]

Richard's post brings up a larger issue:

When a creator/dealer/advertiser claims/posts/advertises/implies that a particular item is "exclusively available" only from them, it's disappointing when it turns out you can obtain it most anywhere.

It is a well-known technique in sales that claiming that a product's supply is somehow limited or exclusive is one way to stimulate buyer demand. In our cottage industry, this technique is sometimes stretched to its limit. (For example, when so-called "limited" numbered releases are suddenly being reissued in another form within the same year) The manufacturers certainly have a right to do this, but the early adopters can sometimes feel a little burned.

Although I have no first-hand knowledge of what Mr. Breese personally said in this case, he did give a very generous pre-publication deal to those who bought early, so that does take a lot of the sting out of this latest revelation (and everybody wins!).

Parenthetically, the issue raised makes me respect Guy Hollingworth even more for how he kept his promise to not re-release the Reformation video despite the money he could have made on it.

P.S.: To be crystal clear: the above should NOT be consrued as a personal attack on Mr. Breese or his business, nor a comment on the value of the Robinson book, which is reportedly fabulous. In fact, Mr. Breese has been extremely honorable in our past business dealings together, and I'd buy from him anytime!

[Richard Kaufman]

The reason both the reviews in Genii and MAGIC stated that the book was available only from Martin directly is because that's what he told us.

It's obvious that he's changed his mind and, considering the economy and the fact that the largest portion of customers for this book are in the US (and would have incurred a $30 shipping charge), he ultimately made the correct business decision.